I studied in modern times

Chapter 1072 Qionglin Banquet (3)

Meeting Zhao Xu's gaze, Tong Guan lowered his head and chose to be frank: "Your Excellency, I have heard that the gatekeepers and stewards of the two imperial relatives, Xiang and Gao, often deliver food boxes to the gathering place at Taiping Xingguo Temple..."

Zhao Xu chuckled: "Anything else?"

It was not surprising to Zhao Xu that the Xiang and Gao families would help Bao Cheng.

After all, the interests of the Xiang family, the Gao family, and the Zhao family on Xihe Road all need the Bao family to protect and support them.

Therefore, when Bao Cheng went to the capital, these families would naturally take care of him.

This is all normal!
After all, even in modern times, there is a saying: "Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake!"

No matter how powerful the Xiang and Gao families are, they are still people from Bianjing.

The Bao family, on the other hand, was a powerful local force in Xihe, with two to three hundred thousand able-bodied men and the ability to easily muster two to three thousand soldiers.

Moreover, the Bao family also had close ties with powerful families in the Northwest, such as the Zhao family of Qinzhou (Zhao Chunzhong and his brothers, also known as the Bazhanjiao brothers) and the Li family of Lanzhou (Li Linzhan Nezhi and Li Lizun's grandson).

Even Zhao Xu had to be appeased, won over, and united with.

but……

The Xiang and Gao families are maternal relatives, and maternal relatives can certainly act arrogantly and domineeringly in their own territory.

However, if they go to the territory of intellectuals, it's like offering themselves up for trouble.

Back then, Zhang Yaozuo, the uncle of Empress Wencheng, the favorite concubine of Emperor Renzong, wanted to snatch a top scholar as a son-in-law, so he kidnapped Feng Jing and took him back.

The results of it?
The idiom remains: Mistaking Feng Jing for Ma Liang!

To this day, it remains a source of amusement for the people of Bianjing!
With this precedent in place, it would be quite an achievement for the Xiang and Gao families to even go to the Bureau of Events to bolster Bao Cheng's reputation.

Trying to gain influence is tantamount to giving those with ulterior motives a chance to become famous!

It's a slap in the face to the maternal relatives, but the emperor likes it, the literary world appreciates it, and the ministers are happy to see it happen.

As long as you seize the opportunity and stay within the rules of the game.

It's like finding a shortcut to Zhongnan Mountain!
Therefore, wise relatives of the emperor were very careful in front of civil officials—not because they were afraid of them.

Regardless of winning or losing, we're the ones who suffer the loss!

As for the Zhao family, their influence in officialdom and literary circles was very limited.

Tong Guan immediately flattered her, saying, "Your wisdom is unparalleled!"

"Besides the gatekeepers and stewards from the Xiang and Gao families, who are related to the emperor by marriage, the two sons of the Grand Tutor's family also sent messengers to the Qiji Bureau to deliver visiting cards to Young Master Bao, inviting him to their residence for an audience..."

"Grand Tutor Wen? Hehe..." Zhao Xu looked as if he had just expected it.

Wen Yanbo, that old fox, is notorious for finding a way to slip through any crack.

Moreover, they have no regard for integrity!
Back then, in order to become prime minister, he went so far as to fawn over Zhang Yaozuo and went to great lengths to send gifts to Empress Zhang, which pleased her greatly. Thus, he used his influence to push Wen Yanbo to the position of prime minister.

Unfortunately, this old fox was also quite adept at dealing with people.

He was able to be on very friendly terms with Zhang Yaozuo while simultaneously directing his friends to relentlessly impeach Zhang Yaozuo.

For example, the famous Bao Zheng, also known as Bao Xiaosu Gong, launched an impeachment against Zhang Yaozuo at this time.

Zhang Yaozuo, on the other hand, acted as if to say, "The Prime Minister understands me! I understand the Prime Minister!"

He remained calm and unperturbed in the face of Bao Zheng's impeachment.

Otherwise, given Emperor Renzong's protectiveness of his own and his favoritism towards Empress Zhang...

No matter how upright and selfless Bao Zheng was, he would probably still be demoted and banished from the capital.

Zhao Xu then asked, "Has the Grand Tutor seen Bao Cheng?"

Tong Guan shook his head: "Reporting to Your Excellency, I heard that when Young Master Bao came to pay his respects, the Grand Tutor had already accepted an invitation from a friend to attend a poetry gathering..."

really!

Zhao Xu smiled incredibly brightly!

Wen Yanbo, that old fox, never leaves anyone with any reason to criticize him.

I've always been completely innocent!

Just like in Zhao Xu's previous life, his son Wen Jifu and Xing Shu got together and tried every means to exonerate Cai Que and Zhang Dun.

Therefore, when Zhao Xu took power, almost all the other old faction families were purged.

The Wen family alone remained unharmed and passed through the ordeal safely.

This old man's political wisdom is simply unmatched!

Just ...

Why would Wen Yanbo take the initiative to contact the Bao family in Xizhou?

Zhao Xu looked at Tong Guan and asked, "What has Wen Liu been up to lately?"

Wen Liu refers to Wen Yanbo's sixth son, Wen Jifu.

"I have heard that this scholar, along with the young master of the Guo military governor's household and Fu Zhirou, the grandson of Fu Zheng, are currently outside Bianjing city, where they have joined forces to establish a workshop using the method of weaving... They are currently busy purchasing land, hiring weavers and carpenters, and building looms..."

Zhao Xu responded with an "oh," indicating that everything made sense.

Just ...

"Guo Jiedu? Guo Kui?" "Yes!"

Zhao Xu hummed in agreement, inwardly praising the gesture.

His eyes couldn't help but turn to Wen Yanbo, who was leaning back in his armchair on one side of the courtyard, looking calm and composed.

The Wen family, the Guo family, and the Fu family joined forces to run a workshop.

It also uses a very advanced structure of dou niu (a type of mortise and tenon joint).

This is about combining the strengths of the three companies to grow bigger and stronger!

Once it's done, with the combined efforts of Wen, Guo, and Fu, their products will have unimpeded access to Hedong, Henan, and Jingxi!
Because these three places are the core business that these three companies have cultivated for decades.

His students and former officials were scattered throughout the prefectures and counties.

Who would dare not give them face?

What's even better is that even if this matter is exposed, it won't cause any major harm.

After all, the Wen family needs to transform its business, while the Fu family has already declined...

As for the Guo family...

If military generals don't seek money, what else can they seek but power?

Just ...

Zhao Xu was genuinely worried that once this joint venture of the three families gained momentum...

Wen Yanbo is alright; that old geezer is known for his poor manners.

But the same may not be true for wealthy families.

How much money did Fu Bi amass while he was alive?
Who can explain it clearly?

Of all the gardens in Luoyang, the most magnificent, the most splendid, and the most impressive is Fu Bi's Fu Garden.

Its gardens are so large and beautiful that they are said to be unparalleled in the world!
According to those who have been there, it boasts the beauty of four caves, five pavilions, three mountains, and one platform.

It is said to be nestled among three mountains, with a stream flowing behind it, where one can stroll through gardens and admire flowers, climb to high places for panoramic views, take a boat ride on the stream, or explore secluded spots and mysteries.

Compared to Fu Bi's Fu Garden, Zhao Xu's Yujin Garden looks rather shabby!
In addition, Zhao Xu also heard that Wen Yanbo had agreed with Fu Shaoting to borrow two million strings of cash as Wen Xunniang's dowry.

Fu Shaoting agreed without hesitation!
Zhao Xu was shocked when he heard this—you know, even the Ministry of Revenue would find it quite difficult to come up with two million strings of cash at once.

They might even end up having to borrow money from Zhao Xu's sealed-off warehouse.

Fu Shaoting agreed to Wen Yanbo's request without even blinking.

So here's the question—where did Fu Shaoting and his father Fu Bi accumulate so much wealth?
It can't be that Fu Bi was honest and incorruptible, so the copper coins were moved by the Fu family's conscience and automatically jumped into the Fu family's arms, right?

Thinking this, Zhao Xu instructed Tong Guan: "Let Shi Deyi handle this matter and assign a special person to investigate it..."

"If anything happens, report to me immediately!"

Zhao Xu's feelings at this moment were very complicated.

On the one hand, he knew that the development of capital would inevitably lead to monopoly.

Bureaucratic and powerful monopolies are still monopolies.

Therefore, even without the Wen, Fu, and Guo families, the Cao, Li, and Liu families would have completed this historical process.

Monopoly capital, once it emerges, will inevitably devour people.

They prey on both their own people and outsiders!

This is an inevitable trend in social development.

Once capital enters the scene, it's inevitable!
On the other hand, he also fears and even dreads monopoly capital.

In particular, bureaucratic monopoly capital with a wealthy background!
Once they gain power, they won't care about manners.

Just like what Fu Bi did in Bozhou back then—when the Green Sprouts Act was promulgated and implemented, Fu Bi did everything he could to prevent its implementation in Bozhou.

In public, he naturally presented himself in a dignified manner—showing concern for the people, worrying that the poor would flee and hide, and also worrying that officials below would have to force the people to confiscate their property because they could not repay their debts.

They look like they're incredibly righteous and noble!

But what is the reality?

In the shadows, on the other side, this renowned prime minister forced local officials in Bozhou to impose Ever-Normal Loans on the people.

The interest rate for Changping Loans is several times that of Qingmiao Loans!
Moreover, he frequently had officials who failed to implement his Ever-Normal Loan policy tied up and whipped in court, and several people were seriously injured by him!

Thus, an extremely absurd scene unfolded in Bozhou that year—the local people, unable to bear the exploitation by this "famous minister," stopped Zhao Ji, the deputy transport commissioner of Huainan Road and the person in charge of the implementation of the Green Sprouts Law, when he passed through Bozhou, and cried and begged to borrow money from the Green Sprouts Law.

They won't let you leave unless you lend them the money!
Throughout the provinces and prefectures, the Green Sprouts Law was being enforced, but some officials evaded it, some shirked responsibility, and some expressed dissatisfaction.

However, Bozhou is the only place where the common people are crying and begging to borrow money from the imperial court for the green seedlings fund!
This shows just how disgraceful Fu Bi's behavior was in Bozhou!
However, amidst fear and worry, Zhao Xu also secretly hoped for the emergence of a monopolistic capital that would wreak havoc for a time and incur the wrath of both heaven and man.

Only in this way could he "borrow a public official's head for his own use".

Use the number of people to set rules for others!

Moreover, he needs this person to appear as soon as possible!
Because it's too late, the power of capital has already grown too strong, and even he would probably have to be hesitant to act rashly.

(End of this chapter)